Car-coupling knuckle.



PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

1 llfllll n. W. ALDERMAN.

GAR COUPLING KNUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 3. 1904.

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p UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL WV. ALDERMAN, OF OOVINGTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO PHILIP S. ARMENTROUT AND OLIVER A. POPE, OF COV- INGTON, VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING KNUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,946, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed March 3, 1904.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. ALDERMAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Alleghany and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Coupler Knuckles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in car-coupler knuckles.

The object of the invention is to provide a car-coupler knuckle having means for preventing the knuckle pivot-pin from dropping out of place should the same become broken.

With this object in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side View of a car-coupler embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the knuckle detached from thecoupler. Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view of the coupler and knuckle, showing a modified construction of the same. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of the knuckle and the lug as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing still another modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the coupler, which may be of any construction having a pivoted or-jointed knuckle. 2 denotes the head of the coupler provided with upper and lower apertured lugs 3, between which is pivoted on the pivot-pin 4 the knuckle 5, having the usual lockingtongue 6.

On the lower end of the knuckle is fixed an Lshaped lug or projection 7, the end '8 of which is adapted to project beneath the lower end of the pivot-pin 4, as shown. In said end 8 of the lug or projection 7 is formed an aperture 9, which is of less diameter than the pin 4. The oflice of the aperture 9 is to permit Serial No. 196,339. (No model.)

the removal of the lower end of the pin 4 from the coupler by pushing an implement up through said aperture, and thereby forcing the pin upwardly out of the apertures in the lugs 3 and the coupler.

The object of the L-shaped lug 7 is to prevent the dropping out of the pivot-pin 4 should the same become broken from any cause. By retaining the lower portion of the broken pin in its place the parts of the coupler will be held together, whereas should the lower portion of the broken pin be allowed to drop out the strain on the upper portion of the pin and the upper lug 3 of the couplerhead would cause said lug to be broken off, as I is frequently the case, thus rendering the coupler unfit for further use.

In the lower end of the pivot-pin 4 is formed a horizontally-disposed hole, in which is arranged a cotter-pin 4 to prevent the upward movement of said pivot-pin.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modified form of the invention. In this instance the lower end of the knuckle has formed therein a dovetail slot or groove 10, and the L-shaped lug 7 is detachably secured to the knuckle by forming on the upper end of said lug beveled flanges 12, which are adapted to engage the dovetail slot. The slot or groove 10 is formed from the inside of the knuckle and does not extend entirely across the same, thereby forming a shoulder 10, against which the end of the lug 7 abuts when inserted into said slot or groove 10. After the lug is engaged with said grooveand the knuckle is arranged on the coupler the lug will be prevented from slipping out of said groove, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In Fig. 6 is shown still another modified form of the invention, in which the lower end of the pivot-pin 4 is reduced, as at 16, thereby forming a shoulder 17. The reduced end of the pin passes through the opening or aperture 9 in thelug or projection 7, and the shoulder 17 rests on the lug, thereby holding the pin from falling through if broken.

In the lower projecting end of the pin 4 is formed a horizontally -disposed hole, and

through said hole is inserted a cotter-pin 18,

which holds the pivot-pin against upward movement. Thus it will be seen that the pivotpin 4 is prevented from moving either up or down, and should the same be broken the parts will be retained in place.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood'without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A car-coupler knucklehaving means for retaining the pivot-pin of the same in place, substantially as described.

2. A car-coupler knuckle having means for retaining the lower portion of the pivot-pin of the same in place should said pin become broken, substantially as described.

3. A car-coupler knuckle having means removably connected thereto for retaining the lower portion of the pivot of the same in place should said pin become broken, substantially as described.

4. A car-coupler knuckle having means for retaining the lower portion of the pivot-pin of the same in place should said pin become broken and means whereby said broken pin may be removed when so desired, substantially as described.

5. A car-coupler knuckle having secured to its lower end anL-shaped lug upon which is adapted to rest the lower end of the pivot-pin of said knuckle, substantially as described.

6. A car-coupler knuckle having detachably secured to its lower end an L-shaped lug upon which is adapted to rest the lower end of the pivot-pin of said knuckle, substantially as described.

7. A car-coupler knuckle having secured to its lower end an L-shaped lug adapted to support the pivot-pin of said knuckle and means whereby said pin is held against upward movement, substantially as described.

8. A car-coupler knuckle having secured to its lower end an L-shaped lug, to support the lower portion of the pivot-pin of said knuckle should said pin become broken, and an aperture formed in said lug whereby the broken lower end of said pin may be pushed out and removed, substantially as described.

9. A car-coupler knuckle having secured to its lower end an L-shaped lug, an aperture formed in said lug, a pivot-pin for pivotally connecting said knuckle with a car-coupler, a shoulder formed on saidpin to rest on said lug, a reduced end formed on said pin below said shoulder, said reduced end being adapted to pass through the aperture in said lug, and means for retaining the pin in said aperture, substantially as described.

10. A car-coupler knuckle having formed on its lower side a dovetailed slot, an L-shaped apertured lug having beveled flanges on its upper edges to engage the dovetail sides of said slot whereby said lug is connected to said knuckle, and means for securing said lug in place to prevent the lower portion of the pivotpin of said knuckle from dropping out, substantially as described.

I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL W. ALDERMAN. Witnesses:

W. A. CALDWELL, J. B. OROWDER. 

